102" whip vs a-99 for base antenna

[Coyoteman]

Just as the title reads what would be the difference besides the whip costing about a third of the price of a A-99.
Rx and tx would there be a big difference between the two?
What do you think?

[Deleted User 14541]

I've ran both but never did any real comparison. The whip worked pretty good with 2 radials at around 45 degrees. When I put up the a99 (actually a bandit 2) I don't remember a dramatic difference. There was a little improvement when I upgraded to an imax The a99 is easy to install and will probably have an edge on the 1/4 wave whip with proper ground radials.

Easy installation and no radials if you have limited space is what makes the fiberglass junk shine. We helped a local put up a sigma 4 this weekend to replace his imax. The guy was blown away by the difference. I was too when I went from an imax to a 5/8 maco. So much quieter and 1.5 to 2 s unit improvement on TX & RX....I know that's not what you asked but I started rambling.

[Coyoteman]

I would love to have a Maco 5/8 but have no room. So the IMAX out performs the 99?

[Deleted User 14541]

It seemed to be better for me. If you can find a sigma 4 or vector 4000 you can have good performance and not take up a lot of room. The radials are folded upward into a cone shape. The antenna is about 27 ft long but it flat out talks. A guy that used to live here copied the design and built a few for the local crowd.

[MDYoungblood]

I tried the same thing, a 102 and a couple wires as radials, worked pretty good for the height it was up. Then put up a Shakespeare Big Stick which is the same as an Antron 99, I didn't see much of an increase in signal even though it was higher in height but did notice an increase in static pickup. Like 543 said the fiberglass antennas have there place but if you have the room an all metal antenna is the way to go, it will surprise you in performance.

3's

Greg

[slowpoke1w]

102" steel whip vs a dummy load I mean a-99 what?

[Lost Ram]

For whats it worth the A99 is more user friendly then the 102" whip. Most new to CB will find the A99 better then the 102" made to work on a base station. I am just stating what is easier!!!! I am not stating one is better then the other.
Kerry

[Buzzweiser]

Hands down the best and most versatile antenna ever made is the 102" whip. There are so many things you can do with that antenna. When the original Big Stick came out they were merely set-up as the bottom section was just another piece of coax extending the one you had screwed into it and the top was a whip. A-99's and their clones added dc grounding to this but basically still use the "whip" section the same way. End fed dipoles.

[Lost Ram]

Hello,
I guess I should have said the A99 is what you want. This is the answer I would have wanted when I first started out in the CB world. Yes, more money but its so easy!!!!!
Kerry

[Coyoteman]

Today I put up my new A-99 getting good reports back. I used 213 military spec coax and put it up 20 feet might go another 10 later. Also hooked up my messenger 350 to it and it seems to be working well also.

[Lost Ram]

Glad to see its working for you, yesterday the skip was coming out of Cali, maybe it will do the same today and you will be able to get some skip action logged.
Kerry